A decimated Sydney Sixers line up overcame the loss of several star players to beat the Melbourne Renegades to kick start their Big Bash League campaign at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Sixers were weakened by the absence of six Test players including Steve Smith, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin while Stephen O'Keefe and Trent Copeland were sidelined with injury. They essentially had no one else to call upon from outside the 12 players and were forced to play the likes of untried Twenty20 players such as Ben Dwarshuis, Ed Cowan and Luke Doran in front of 12,789 people.

The Sixers cruised to a seven wicket win in the 19th over led by a strong 64-run opening stand by Nic Maddinson and Michael Lumb who have cemented themselves as arguably the competitions most established opening pair. The innings started nervously for the men in magenta opposing dumped Test bowler Peter Siddle. Siddle missed a tough caught and bowled chance by Maddinson while Lumb was given a reprieve when Nathan Rimmington missed another difficult opportunity off Siddle's bowling.

Rimmington eventually claimed Lumb (28) leg-before in the eighth over. Maddinson and Moises Henriques moved steadily throughout the innings. The opening batsman reached his half century after 38 balls, in what was his return to the SCG following the passing of Phillip Hughes. Maddinson pulled out of the Blues most recent Sheffield Shield clash having needed more time off before concentrating on cricket.

He combined with Henriques to make a 90 second wicket stand. Maddinson's 84 was the most by a Sixers player in a BBL game while Henriques made 36 before falling with the scores level. Siddle finished with 0-29 off three overs.

Henriques may have rued his decision to win the toss and bowl early after a thundering start by Matthew Wade. Wade blasted 35 off 18 balls as the score quickly raced to 42 before 20-year-old Dwarshuis celebrated his first scalp in his debut senior game. The all-rounder took the pace off the ball to make Wade misstime the shot with the ball landing in Henriques' hands.

The Renegades continued to lose wickets at regular intervals which halted their hopes of building a respectable total. Captain Aaron Finch (18 off 20) was next out when Doug Bollinger held on to a catch just inside the boundary rope. Bollinger had the next wicket when he removed Tom Cooper (one) with the Renegades at 3/71.

An 11th over surge by Dwayne Bravo saw the West Indian hit back to back sixes off Bollinger's bowling to help the side pass 100 in the 12th over before he was caught behind on 22 to give Abbott his second wicket. Callum Ferguson became the mainstay for the away team, as wickets fell around him. Batting at No.3, he started slowly before growing as the innings developed. Melbourne were pushing for a decent score before Ferguson fell for 40 to Dwarshuis in the 16th over.

The Renegades could manage only 26 more runs from their remaining overs with Brett Lee (2-21) ensuring a strong finish for the Sixers.